It's playoff season! For hockey and basketball, anyway. Since we don't even have a hockey team here anymore, and we don't ever get snowy weather, I'm much more interested in basketball.
Here are some little known basketball facts.
1. Shaquille O'Neal has several rap songs. It's kinda funny.
2. The shortest person to play in the NBA was Mugsy Bogues who was only 5' 3" tall. The Washington Bullets selected him as the 12th overall pick in 1987. He played in the NBA for 14 years.
3. Pau Gasol, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, went to medical school in Barcelona, but left when he was drafted into the NBA.
4. The American Basketball League, which began in 1976, was known for the flashy 3-point shots. The ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, but the 3-point shot wasn't used in the NBA until 1979.
5. Moses Malone was the first high school prospect who skipped college and went straight to the NBA. He was signed to play for the University of Maryland, but the Utah Stars (in the ABA) came calling instead. He was an NBA All Star 12 times, 5 of those while he was playing for my favorite team, the Houston Rockets.
6. Did you know that jump balls used to be after EVERY BASKET? I can't imagine that!
7. The only player to average a triple/double for one season is Oscar Robertson who played for the Cincinnati Royals in 1962.
8. Elvin Hayes never won an MVP award despite the fact that "he played in 12 consecutive All-Star games, won a championship and averaged 20 points per game or more in 10 of his 16 NBA seasons" (Bleacher Report) He played for the University of Houston before the NBA, then the San Diego/Houston Rockets, the Baltimore Bullets, and again for Houston.
9. The Miami Heat is the only team to win both the slam dunk and 3 point contests during all-star week. This happened in 1995, the same year Houston won their second championship in a row.
10. Charles Barkley was cut from both his freshman and sophomore basketball teams. He did, however, play his junior and senior years.
11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor before he converted to Islam.
12. Providence, Rhode Island once had a team. They were called the Steamrollers. They only lasted 3 seasons, and their overall record was abysmal: 46-122.
13. Malice in the Palace - Some call this the scariest (or most embarrassing) moment in NBA history. It took place on November 19, 2004 between the Pistons and the Pacers. Take a look.
Most information in this post came from Bleacher Report
P. S. I really can't stand those GEICO commercials with the talking basketball!
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I just loved reading this T13!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I was a certified inter-mural referee for basketball in 1959-60. So yes, I remember the jump ball after every score. Basketball is my favorite sport to watch.
Happy T13!
B-ball was never my sport, neither for playing nor as a spectator (though I dated a cheerleader--briefly--in High School & so HAD to attend a few games.) I lived in Springfield MA many years later, within a short bus ride or a medium walk to the Basketball Hall of Fame, but never visited.
ReplyDeleteIs Scrabble a sport? Sonneteering? Nap? More up my alley.
fun facts my team Celtics is behind
ReplyDeleteI'm not much into sports although it is impossible to live in this country and not absorb some of it. When I was in high school the band occasionally played at BB games so I understand the basics of it. Interesting facts. The fight video was scary.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a lot of great facts about basketball. I've learned something. Thanks.
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